9/6 BOS @ CHW

1) John Danks: 107 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 4 Cutters, 2 Fastballs, Changeup.

• Danks came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a little sink, cutter has some cut and some sink, a change with some fade from righties and good sink that he will throw in 3-1 and 3-2 counts that he will also throw to lefties and a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth.

1st: FB (86-91), Cut (86-88), CU (80-82) - Cut

2nd: FB (89-91), Cut (85-88), CU (82), CB (75) - Cut

3rd: FB (88-91), Cut (83-87), CU (82), CB (77) - Cut

4th: FB (87-91), Cut (84-86), CU (80-82) - Cut, FB, CU

5th: FB (87-91), Cut (85-86), CU (80-81) - FB

6th: FB (90), Cut (82-84), CU (78-80)

2) Jon Lester: 122 pitches. 16 strikes swinging. 8 Fastballs, 3 Cutters, 3 Changeups, 2 Curveballs.

• Lester came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some late run in on lefties and some sink, a cutter with good cut and a little sink, a sharp 11-5 curve with above average depth that serves as his out pitch and a change with some fade from righties and some sink.

1st: FB (93-96), Cut (89-91), CB (80) - Cut

2nd: FB (93-95), Cut (88), CU (85)

3rd: FB (92-96), Cut (88-89), CB (77-80), CU (85-88) - 3 FB, CB, CU, Cut

4th: FB (93-96), Cut (86-90), CB (78-80), CU (84) - FB

5th: FB (91-95), Cut (86-91), CB (77), CU (85-86) - 2 FB

6th: FB (92-95), Cut (87-90), CB (80), CU (84-85) - CB, CU

7th: FB (91-96), Cut (86-90), CB (81), CU (81-86) - 2 FB, Cut, CU

3) Randy Williams: 15 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Williams came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a 11-5 curve with average depth and a change with some fade from righties and some sink.

7th: FB (87-95), CB (76), CU (80-81)

4) Tony Pena: 16 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Pena came from an over the top release and showed a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite that can flatten out, a fastball with good run in on righties and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink.

7th: SL (89-90)

8th: FB (94-95), SL (85-89), CU (85)

5) Billy Wagner: 13 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Wagner came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some late run in on lefties, a change with some fade from righties and some sink and a 9-4 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (92-93), SL (82), CU (84-85) - FB

6) Daniel Bard: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Bard came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-7 slider with good bite and a straight 4-seam fastball.

8th: FB (99), SL (85)

7) Octavio Dotel: 22 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

• Dotel came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties, a 10-5 curve with above average depth

9th: FB (91-94), CB (78-80) - CB

8) Jonathan Papelbon: 16 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Papelbon came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink and a split with good dive.

9th: FB (93-95), Split (90)

Chart Observations: 8/14: BOS @ TEX

1) Jon Lester: 117 pitches. 19 strikes swinging. 6 Fastballs (1st, 2nd, 3 in 4th, 6th), 10 Cutters (4 in 1st, 4th, 5th, 4 in 6th), 2 Curveballs (1st, 6th), Changeup (3rd)

• Lester came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on lefties, a cutter with solid cut, a change with some fade from righties with good sink and a 11-5 curve with above average depth. He likes to throw the cutter in on rigthies.

1st: FB (91-95), CB (77-79), Cut (87-90), CU (84)

2nd: FB (90-93), CB (77), Cut (87-89), CU (82)

3rd: FB (91-95), Cut (87-89), CU (84)

4th: FB (90-95), CB (76-80), Cut (85-90)

5th: FB (90-94), CB (76), Cut (85-87), CU (81-85)

6th: FB (89-94), CB (78-79), Cut (85-89), CU (83-84)

2) Kevin Millwood: 110 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 8 on Fastballs (3 in 1st, 3rd, 4 in 4th), Slider (4th)

• Millwood came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and good sink, a change with some fade from lefties and above average sink, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a 12-6 curve with above average depth. He will throw the change to righties.

1st: FB (88-92), SL (83-84), CB (73-74)

2nd: FB (86-91), SL (83-86), CU (82)

3rd: FB (89-92), SL (83-85), CB (72-75)

4th: FB (88-92), SL (83-86), CB (71-75)

5th: FB (88-92), SL (83-86), CB (73), CU (83-85)

6th: FB (89-91), SL (85)

3) Eddie Guardado: 8 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Guardado came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties and a change with some fade from righties with sink.

6th: FB (85-86), CU (76)

4) Darren O'Day: 15 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• O'Day came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a change with a little fade from lefties and a 3-8 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (84-87), SL (76-78)

5) Daniel Bard: 24 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, Slider.

• Bard came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a 1-7 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (93-97), SL (80-83)

6) Takashi Saito: 15 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Saito came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with sink, a 12-6 curve with average depth and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

8th: FB (89-92), SL (81-83), CB (76)

7) C.J. Wilson: 27 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Cutter, Slider.

• Wilson came from a high 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good late cut, a fastball with some tail in on righties and a 11-5 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (92-96), SL (80-86), Cut (88-92)

8) Frank Francisco: 34 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Francisco came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a splitter with solid dive and a 1-7 curve with solid depth.

9th: FB (92-95), Split (82-86), CB (79-80)

9) Jason Jennings: 6 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Jennings came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink.

9th: FB (88-90)

10) Jonathan Papelbon: 21 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, 2 Sliders.

• Papelbon came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a split with above average dive and a 2-7 slider with good bite. I worry that Papelbon may be pitching through a minor injury, as his fastball was slow and he appeared to be nursing through his pitches.

9th: FB (90-93), Split (89), SL (82)

7/30: OAK @ BOS

1) Jon Lester: 104 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (4th, 6th), 3 Cutters (all in 6th)

• Lester came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a power 12-6 curve with good depth, a change with good fade from righties with a little sink and a cutter with good cut.

1st: FB (94-98), CB (80), CU (87)

2nd: FB (93-97), CB (78-79), Cut (90)

3rd: FB (92-96), CB (78-82), Cut (88-90)

4th: FB (93-97), CB (80), Cut (90-92)

5th: FB (94-97), CB (82), CU (88)

6th: FB (92-98), CB (79-83), CU (88), Cut (88-92)

2) Gio Gonzalez: 107 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. Fastball (2nd), 7 Curveballs (2 in 2nd, 2 in 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th), Changeup (3rd)

• Gonzalez is a 5-11, 195 pound lefty. The 23 year old has a small frame that is maxed out. He came from a 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on lefties. His curve is a sharp 10-4 with solid depth and is a strikeout pitch. His change has good fade and some sink. As a starter, he probably profiles as a # 3 or 4 due to some command issues (though he showed none in this game) and as a reliever profiles as a potential set-up man that can get out both lefties and righties.

1st: FB (91-94), CB (81-82)

2nd: FB (91-94), CB (78-82)

3rd: FB (91-95), CB (78-82), CU (85-87)

4th: FB (91-93), CB (80-82), CU (85)

5th: FB (90-93), CB (80-82), CU (85-87)

6th: FB (92-94), CB (78-83), CU (87)

3) Manny Delcarmen: 21 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (6th), Changeup (7th)

• Delcarmen came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a change with some fade from lefties with sink and he will throw the change to righties.

6th: FB (93-96), CU (83)

7th: FB (95-97), CU (82-84)

4) Russ Springer: 8 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Springer came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a cutter with good cut.

6th: FB (94-96), Cut (86)

5) Michael Wuertz: 19 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Wuertz came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little tail and a 2-7 slider that is sharp with above average bite.

7th: FB (90-92), SL (84-87)

6) Craig Breslow: 8 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Breslow came from a high 3/4 and showed a 11-5 curve with solid depth and a fastball with some run in on lefties.

7th: FB (89-92), CB (72)

7) Santiago Casilla: 14 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Casilla came from a 3/4 release and shwoed a fastball with some run in on righties, a change with some fade from lefties and a little sink and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

8th: FB (95-98), SL (86-87), CU (87)

8) Daniel Bard: 8 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Bard came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and a 2-7 slider with above average bite.

8th: FB (98-101), SL (84-86)

9) Jonathan Papelbon: 17 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Splitter

• Papelbon came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a split with good dive and a 2-7 slider with some bite.

9th: FB (98-99), SL (87-88), Split (94)

7/28: OAK @ BOS (Regulation Pitchers)

1) Vin Mazzaro: 104 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (1st, 4th, 5th), Slider (6th)

• Mazzaro came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties, a sweeping 2-7 slider with solid bite, a loopy 2-7 curve with okay depth and a change with some fade from lefties with a little sink that he will throw to righties. Command of his fastball can come and go.

1st: FB (96-99), CU (91)

2nd: FB (96-98), CU (90), SL (83-85)

3rd: FB (93-97), CU (87), SL (84-90)

4th: FB (91-96), SL (83)

5th: FB (93-96), SL (83-89)

6th: FB (92-94), SL (82-88), CB (78)

2) Clay Buchholz: 107 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (1st, 3rd), 5 on Changeups (1st, 3 in 3rd, 6th)

• Clay came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a change with good fade from lefties with good sink and a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth that can be a strikeout pitch. He will throw his change to righties and it serves as his out pitch.

1st: No Gameday

2nd: FB (96-99), CU (80-83), CB (77-81)

3rd: FB (94-97), CU (81-83), CB (79-81)

4th: FB (93-97), CU (81-82), CB (78-81)

5th: FB (93-96), CU (80-81), CB (76)

6th: FB (93-96), CU (80-81), CB (81-82)

3) Ramon Ramirez: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup (7th).

• Ramirez came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with run in on righties and a hard change whose movement can be unpredictable due to it's velocity combined with his grip.

6th: FB (94)

7th: FB (95), CU (89-90)

4) Russ Springer: 17 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Cutter

• Springer came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball withs ome tail, a cutter that moves like a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a 2-7 curve with solid depth.

7th: FB (94-95), Cut (86-87), CB (79)

5) Hideki Okajima: 29 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (8th), Splitter (8th)

• Okajima came from an over the top release and shwoed a 11-5 curve with solid depth that was sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch, a split with some fade from lefties but not much dive and a fastball with solid run in on lefties.

7th: FB (88-90), CB (75-80), Split (83-84)

8th: FB (86-89), CB (76-78), Split (82)

6) Brad Ziegler: 11 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Ziegler came from a submarine release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink and a 4-7 slider with solid bite.

8th: FB (85-88), SL (74)

7) Daniel Bard: 6 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Bard came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little late run in on righties and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (99-100), SL (85)

8) Michael Wuertz: 17 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Wuertz is a 6-3, 205 pound righty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite. Solid middle reliever in the Kiko Calero mold.

9th: FB (94-95), SL (87-90)

9) Jonathan Papelbon: 21 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Splitter.

• Papelbon came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties, a split with good fade from lefties and a 2-7 slider with some bite that he calls a slutter and it is a mix between a slider and cutter.

9th: FB (97-99), Split (93), SL (84-87)

Score: OAK @ BOS

1) Trevor Cahill: 110 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th), 6 Changeups (1st, 3 in 2nd, 2 in 5th) and a Curveball (5th)

• Cahill came from a 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with above average run in on righties and great late sink, a straight 4-seam, a change that looks like a fastball out of his hand with good late fade from lefties and good late sink, a fairly flat 2-7 slider with okay bite and a 1-7 curve with average depth. Cahill really struggles to command his fastball at times and that causes him to have throw pitches to the middle of the plate. He also needs to develop one of the curve or slider to at least major league average.

1st: FB (89-93), CU (81-82)

2nd: FB (89-93), CU (80-85)

3rd: FB (89-94), CU (79-82), SL (84-86), CB (80)

4th: FB (86-92), CU (80-82), SL (82-86), CB (79)

5th: FB (87-91), CU (79-81), SL (84), CB (79-80)

2) Josh Beckett: 103 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (1st, 5th, 6th), 5 Curveballs (1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th), Changeup (4th)

• Beckett came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a 1-7 curve with above average depth and is sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch that he can throw for strikes or bounce at will, a change with good dive that he will throw to righties and a cutter with solid cut.

1st: FB (95-97), CB (77-80)

2nd: FB (95-97), CB (79-80)

3rd: FB (93-96), CB (79), CU (90-92)

4th: FB (94-96), CB (78-80), CU (90)

5th: FB (94-96), CB (78-79), Cut (94)

6th: FB (93-96), CB (76-80), CU (89), Cut (93)

7th: FB (93-94), CB (76)

3) Santiago Casilla: 25 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Casilla came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties, a change with some fade form lefties and a little sink and a 2-7 slider with above average bite.

6th: FB (94-97), SL (84-89), CU (88)

4) Edgar Gonzalez: 35 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (7th)

• Gonzalez is a 6-2, 210 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from a high 3/4 release and has a little bit of a gut. His fastball has some run in on righties. His curve is a slow 1-7 with average depth. His change has some fade from lefties that he will throw 2-0 to righties. His cutter has some cut. His slider is a 2-7 with some bite. He will also drop down and throw frisbee sliders at random times. He throws a lot of pitches and not one is better then league average. 4-A guy.

7th: FB (90-93), CB (73-75), CU (78-79), SL (77-79), Cut (84-85)

8th: FB (90-92), CB (74), SL (79), F-SL (73)

5) Daniel Bard: 21 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, 2 Sliders.

• Bard came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a 2-7 slider with above average bite. Please watch video of this guy. His mechanics are so quiet and looks to be throwing low 90's and then the gun says 100. It is incredible.

8th: FB (97-100), SL (83-87)

6) Manny Delcarmen: 11 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Delcarmen came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a change with good late fade from lefties with solid sink and a 1-7 curve with average depth that is sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch.

9th: FB (92-95), CB (76), CU (84)

BOS @ TOR

1) Clay Buchholz: 103 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (2nd, 3rd, 6th), 5 on Changeups (2 in 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th) and a Curveball (5th)

• Clay is a 6-3, 190 pound righty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that can add quite a bit more muscle and get up to at least 205. He comes from an over the top release with a classic drop and drive delivery. His fastball has above average run in on righties with a little sink. His change moves exactly like his fastball, just slower and serves as his out pitch. It can be flat on occasion, but he will throw it to righties. He likes to throw it away to both righties and lefties and let them swing through it. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 with above average depth and it is sharp with the ability to be a strikeout pitch. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with above average late bite. He works painfully slowly on the mound. He threw a lot of 1st pitch fastballs for strikes until they started to get more aggressive, then he worked in 1st pitch changes and curves for strikes. He can throw strikes with all his pitches and can bounce his curve when necessary. He has above average command of his 4 above average pitches, though he can leave the occasional fastball up. Still a future ace in my eyes.

1st: FB (93-95), CU (81-82), CB (78-80)

2nd: FB (94-96), CU (81-82), CB (80), SL (82-84)

3rd: FB (93-95), CU (80-83), SL (81)

4th: FB (94-95), CU (79-82), CB (81), SL (85)

5th: FB (94-96), CU (80-83), CB (79-80), SL (84-85)

6th: FB (93-96), CU (80-82), CB (77-80)

2) Ricky Romero: 93 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (3 in 3rd, 5th), 2 on Changeups (1st, 3rd) and 3 on Curveballs (2nd, 2 in 4th)

• Romero came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a change with good fade from righties with good sink that serves as his out pitch, a 11-4 curve with above average depth that is sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch and a 11-4 slider with good bite. At least a # 2 starter, possible ace down the road.

1st: FB (92-96), CU (85-87)

2nd: FB (92-95), CU (85-87), CB (77-78), SL (82)

3rd: FB (91-94), CU (82-86), CB (75-77), SL (85-86)

4th: FB (90-94), CU (84-86), CB (74-76)

5th: FB (91-96), CU (84-86), SL (82-85)

3) Shawn Camp: 20 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Slider (7th), Changeup (7th)

• He came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a change that moves just like his fastball with above average fade from lefties and good sink that he will throw to righties and a 2-8 slider with solid bite.

5th: FB (90), CU (83-85)

6th: FB (86), CU (80-82), SL (80)

7th: FB (88-90), CU (80-85), SL (81)

4) Daniel Bard: 19 pitches 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (both in 6th), Slider (7th)

• If you haven't seen Bard pitch, find some video of him. He came from an over the top release and showed a pretty straight 4-seam fastball and a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite.

6th: FB (98-99), SL (85)

7th: FB (97-99), SL (84-88)

5) Jeremy Accardo: 13 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Cutter, Splitter.

• Accardo came from an over the top releae and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a cutter with good cut and a little sink and a split with good fade from lefties with some sink that he will throw to righties.

8th: FB (92-95), Cut (88-90), Split (86)

6) Hideki Okajima: 18 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Hideki came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little late run in on lefties, a 12-6 curve with above average depth that is sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch and a split with some dive, but not much. The curve serves as his out pitch.

8th: FB (86-88), CB (75-77), Split (81-82)

7) Brandon League: 11 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, 2 Splitters

• League came from a 3/4 release with a fastball with good run in on righties and a splitter with above average dive.

9th: FB (96-99), Split (85-88)

8) Jonathan Papelbon: 8 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Papelbon came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some late run in on righties and a 2-7 slider with above average late bite.

9th: FB (95-96), SL (84)

2 Charts and a doubleheader tomorrow. Awesome.

Score Observation (7/11): KC @ BOS: BOS Pitchers

1) John Smoltz: 97 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 7 on Sliders (1st, 2 in 3rd, 4th, 3 in 5th), Fastball (2nd), Splitter (2nd)

• Smoltz is a 6-3, 220 pound righty. The 42 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties. His slider is a sharp 2-7 will good bite that is very tight. His splitter has okay dive. He struggled to command his fastball in the zone. His slider is back to where it was with the Braves, as was his fastball velocity, he just needs a little more fine tuning.

1st: FB (91-94), SL (86-88), Split (86-87)

2nd: FB (91-92), SL (83-87), Split (86)

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (85-87)

4th: FB (91-93), SL (84-86), Split (86-87)

5th: FB (90-92), SL (83-86), Split (86)

2) Justin Masterson: 25 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Masterson came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with sink and a loopy 3-8 slider he uses as a get-me over pitch and a sharper one as a strikeout pitch. He battled his command and left quite a few sliders and sinkers over the middle of the plate.

6th: FB (90-96), SL (82-87)

3) Manny Delcarmen: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Delcarmen came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a change with some late fade from lefties with sink and a 12-6 curve with okay depth.

6th: FB (91-96), CU (80), CB (78)

4) Hideki Okajima: 23 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (7th)

• Okajima came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a sharp 12-6 curve with solid depth and a split with okay dive. Gets by on deception more then stuff now.

6th: FB (88-89), CB (77)

7th: FB (88-89), CB (76-77), Split (83-84)

5) Daniel Bard: 30 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (3 in 8th) and a Slider (7th)

• Bard came from a high 3/4 and showed a pretty straight 4-seam fastball and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (98-99), SL (84-85)

8th: FB (96-99), SL (85-86)

6) Takashi Saito: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

• Saito came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-7 slider with solid bite, a fastball that was pretty straight and a split with some dive.

9th: FB (92-93), SL (82-83), Split (89)

NYM @ BOS

• Johan Santana got the start for the Mets and is a 30 year old who stands 6-0 and 21o pounds. From a high 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 89-93, a slider at 80-86 and a changeup at 79-84. His fastball has great movement and goes away from right handers. It is a plus offering. His changeup looks exactly like a his fastball out of his hand and then just disappears. It has great sink and fade and is truly a plus plus pitch. He has enough command of this pitch to throw it in any count, which really isn't fair. His slider has good late break and has some depth to it. He works from the 3rd base side of the rubber. Amongst the top 3 starters in baseball and may very well be the best.
• Daisuke Matsuzaka was back from the DL and pitched fairly well. The 28 year old who stands 6 feet tall and weighs 185 pounds featured a fastball at 91-94, a slider at 81-85, a changeup at 82-84, a splitter at 81-83 and a cutter at 86-90 from a high 3/4 release. He has a typical Japanese windup, pausing at the balance point and when he takes a step back to start his windup. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His slider is slower then his cutter and has some good side to side movement, but the downward break is inconsistent. His cutter has good movement and moves enough to avoid hitters from squaring it up consistently. His changeup has some good drop and a little fade. Probably fits best as a # 4 on a contender due to his high pitch counts. If he could ever figure out how to throw quality strikes and not walk a lot of guys, he has the pitches to be an above average # 3 starter.
• Justin Masterson fired 3 innings of relief today. The massive (6-6, 250) right hander featured a fastball at 89-95 and a slider at 82-85 from a low 3/4 release. Masterson has a big frame that appears to be maxed out and this is probably all you get from him from a stuff standpoint. He has a very quiet delivery until he breaks, where he gets his whole body into it and uses his 250 pounds to generate his velocity. His fastball has tremendous side to side movement and also shows some sink. He shows a rare ability to both command a pitch with that type of movement and to add and subtract to it for more movement or more speed as he desires. His slider is an above average offering with good depth, but it can be inconsistent. Masterson works painfully slow once runners reach base, but showed quicker to the plate then I thought, as I had him at 1 second on a fastball. Masterson's best role is probably that as a bridge reliever from the starter to the closer.
• Daniel Murphy is a 24 year old who stands 6 foot 3 and weighs 210 pounds. The lefty hitter/righty thrower has a medium to big frame with room to grow. He has a slightly crouched stance and is hunched over. He leans back on his bat leg and wiggles his elbows around as the pitcher is going through his motion. He has the conventional trigger with a step and bringing his ahnds back. He holds the bat almost horizontal just above his shoulder. He is a talented offensive player, showing an ability to work a count to get a pitch he wants, plus bat control and projects to be a 15-20 home run guy in the majors at worst. His biggest issue is where to play him defensively. He has had a lot of struggles in the OF this season and will never have the required power to be a 1B (or the glove to offset the lack of power). A defensive tweener + being a professional hitter usually spells a pinch hitter. I anticipate him sticking in either an outfield corner or at 1B once Carlos Delgado is gone and look to see him hitting .280-.360-.450 with some stolen bases.
• Bobby Parnell throws gas. The 23 year old who stands 6-4 and weighs 200 pounds showed an explosive 4-seam fastball at 96-100 from a high 3/4 release. He may have thrown one changeup that was average. He has a big frame that appears to be maxed out. He shows very easy velocity from a very clean windup and looks to have the looks of a future closer. Special arm.
• Daniel Bard is a 23 year old who stands 6-4 and weighs 200 pounds. He has a long and lean frame that has room to add a lot more muscle. From a high 3/4 release, he showed a fastball from 96-97 and a curveball at 81-82. He battles his command from pitch to pitch and from batter to batter. The curveball showed great bite when used as a strikeout pitch, but flattened out when he tried to throw it for a strike. The Mets got some good swings on him, telling me he may not be quite ready for late inning work, but he is another big arm who has a bright future, likely as a set-up man.

Chart Observations: BOS vs. LAA

• Tim Wakefield started for the Red Sox and featured a knuckler at 67-67, a fastball at 72-73 and a curveball at 58-60 (seriously). He struggled to command the knuckler and it was up in the zone quite a bit. He got hit around, but you expect this from Wakefield. A back-of-the-rotation starter who will lay down some clunkers when the knuckler has a bad day and will have some dominant games when the knuckler dances.
• Matt Palmer threw brilliantly after the first 2 innings. Palmer will not overwhelm you with his stuff, as he sits at 86-88 with his cutter, 86-89 with his 2-seam, 74-77 with his curveball and 82-83 with his changeup. He also dropped down sidearm to throw a curveball to Mike Lowell to end the game and that was at 74. He showed plus command and both his cutter and 2-seam have enough side-to-side movement to make it very difficult for hitters to consistenly put the barrel on the ball. His curveball is a tick above average because of the difference in velocity and his ability to command it. He threw only 2 changeups. Palmer is likely a back of the rotation starter (likely a 5), but is more likely to be one of those emergency starters, the ones who spend a lot of time in AAA and come up when the team is in a bind.
• Hunter Jones is not a major league pitcher in my opinion. He featured a fastball at 86-87 and a slider at 73-76. He doesn't have great command of these average major league offerings and with that type of stuff, you need great command. I don't know if there is much of an upside to him, I think the best he can hope for is to be the 2nd left hander in someone's bullpen.
• Daniel Bard made his major league debut last night and showed a fastball anywhere from 93-98, a slurvy slider at 77-82 and a changeup at 88. He sat between 94-96 with the fastball and showed good command of it. However, both his off-speed pitches are average at best. The slider flashed as an above average offering, but he struggles to command it. The changeup did very little the 1 time he threw it. He is primarily a FB-SL reliever and he features plus velocity, but he has never had good command, so I think his upside is that of a set-up man and is more likely to settle into a middle relief role.
• Takashi Saito showed a fastball at 88-91, a slider at 80-81 and a curveball at 75. He didn't have as much stuff as I thought he did and may end up being over-exposed as a set-up man. This may have been just a bad day (they were losing, so who knows how that affected him), but his slider was kind of flat and his curveball was just average. He has above average command of his stuff, but the end may be near.